Diamond-shaped sign assembly



Nov. 29, 1966 J- B. KEATS DIAMOND-SHAPED SIGN ASSEMBLY Filed June 12, 1964 INVENTOR. ua/m/ 5. 54 75;

United States Patent Ofiice 3,287,848 Patented Nov. 29, 1966 3,287,840 DIAMOND-SHAPED SIGN ASSEMBLY John B. Keats, Erie, Pa., assignor to Borg-Warner Corporation, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed June 12, 1964, Ser. No. 374,596 4 Claims. (Cl. 40-138) This invention relates to a sign assembly, and more particularly to a diamond-shaped sign assembly for use on streets and highways.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sign assembly which is diamond in shape and which is freely swingable upon impingement of wind or other force thereto.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sign assembly which is fabricated Wholly of plastic material and which is readily assembled and disassembled.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a diamond-shaped sign assembly which is simple in construction, highly etficient in use, and commercially feasible.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE ,1 is a perspective view of the diamond-shaped sign assembly according to the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 2.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral designates the sign assembly accordingto the present invention, the sign assembly being fabricated preferably wholly of plastic material and comprises a base 12 which is adapted to be supported upon a ground surface, and rising from the base 12 is a socket 14.

The sign assembly 10 includes a diamond-shaped frame 16 having four corners. Specifically, the frame 16 embodies a first pair of tubular legs 18 arranged in a converging upstanding relation and having the convergent ends detachably connected together by the divergent legs 20 of a Y-coupling 22, the vertical leg 24 of the coupling 22 serving as a mounting stem. The frame 16 also includes a second pair of tubular legs 26 arranged in an inverted converging upstanding relation and having the convergent ends detachably connected together by the legs 28 of an elbow 30, the second pair of legs 26 being disposed so that they are above the first pair of legs 18 with the divergent ends adjacent the divergent ends of the first pair of legs with its elbow 39 directly opposite the divergent legs 20 of the coupling 22. The adjacent diverging ends of the first and second pairs of legs 18 and 26 are detachably connected together each by another elbow 32. The stem 24 of the coupling 22 is received Within and is secured to the socket 14.

A shaft member 36 is located below the elbow 30 of the second pair of legs 26 and extends across the second pair of legs 26 and is connected to the second pair of legs 26 for free rotational movement. Specifically, opposed bearings 38 are supported in the second pair of legs 26 and rotatably receive the free end portions of the shaft member 36.

A sign fabricated of plastic material and preferably of a single solid color is provided, the sign being indicated by the numeral 40 and being conformably shaped to freely fit within the diamond-shaped frame 16. The sign 40 possesses some degree of resiliency, and is disposed within the frame 16. Means connects the upper corner portion of the sign 40 to the shaft member 36 for rotation of the sign 40 with the shaft member 36. Specifically, this means comprises a slot 42 formed in the shaft member 36 which has converging walls 43, and received within the slot 42 is the upper corner portion of the sign 40, as clearly seen in FIGURES 2 and 3. Securing elements 44 carried by the shaft member 36 extend through the upper corner portion of the sign 40 and fixedly attach the sign to the shaft member 36.

The top corner of the diamond-shaped frame 16 is provided on opposite sides of its meeting point or elbow 30 with a hole 50 for receiving and supporting a flagstalf 52.

In operation of the thus described sign assembly the sign 40 is freely swingable into and out of the frame 16 upon impingement of a wind or other force thereto, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 3.

Due to the sign assembly being wholly constructed of plastic material it may be made in any desired color, is indestructible, requires no repainting, and has an indefinite long periodof life.

It is of importance to note that due to the diamond shape of the sign assembly this indicates to the viewer to exercise caution.

What is claimed is:

1. A sign assembly comprising a base adapted to be supported upon a ground surface and having a socket rising therefrom, a diamond-shaped frame having four corners, a mounting stem projecting from one of said corners, said frame being disposed in an upright direction with the corner carrying the stem at the bottom, the corner opposite the stem carrying corner at the top, and the other two corners on opposite sides of the top and bottom corners, the stem on the bottom corner being received within and secured to said socket, a shaft member located inwardly of and extending across the top corner of said frame and connected to said top corner for free rotational movement, a sign fabricated of plastic material and conformably shaped to a size to freely fit within said frame disposed within said frame, and means connecting the upper corner portion of said sign to said shaft member for rotation of said sign with said shaft member, said sign being freely swingable into and out of said frame upon impingement of a wind or other force thereto.

2. The sign assembly according to claim 1, wherein the top corner of said frame is provided on opposite sides of its meeting point with a hole for receiving and supporting a flag-staff.

3. A sign assembly comprising a base adapted to be supported upon a ground surface and having a socket rising therefrom, a diamond-shaped frame fabricated wholly of plastic material and embodying a first pair of tubular legs arranged in converging upstanding relation and having the converging ends detachably connected together by the divergent legs of a Y-coupling and the vertical leg of said Y-coupling serving as a mounting stem, and a second pair of tubular legs arranged in an inverted converging upstanding relation and having the convergent ends detachably connected together by legs of an elbow, said second pair of legs being disposed so that they are above the first pair of legs with the divergent ends adjacent the divergent ends of said first pair of legs with its elbow directly opposite the divergent legs of said Y-coupling, the adjacent divergent ends of the first and second pairs of legs being detachably connected together each by the legs of another elbow, the stem being received within and secured to said socket, a shaft member located below the elbow of said second pair of legs and extending across said second pair of legs and connected to said second pair of legs for free rotational movement, a sign fabricated of plastic material and conformably shaped to a size to freely fit within said frame disposed Within said frame, and means connecting the upper'corner portion of said sign to said shaft assembly for rotation of said sign with said shaft member, said sign being freely swingable into and out of said frame upon impingement of a Wind or other force thereto.

4. The sign assembly according to claim 3, wherein the means connecting the upper corner portion of said sign to said shaft member comprises a slot having converging walls formed in said shaft member and receiving the upper corner portion of said sign, and securing elements upper corner portion of said sign for attaching the sign to said shaft member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,054,230 9/ 1936 Patterson 40-138 2,975,412 3/1961 Fuller 40--125 X 2,995,847 8/ 1961 Carpenter 40-125 3,119,588 1/1964 Keats 40l25 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,167,239 7/ 1958 France.

EUGENE F. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

carried by said shaft member and extending through said 15 H. F. ROSS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SIGN ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A BASE ADAPTED TO BE SUPPORTED UPON A GROUND SURFACE AND HAVING A SOCKET RISING THEREFROM, A DIAMOND-SHAPED FRAME HAVING FOUR CORNERS, A MOUNTING STEM PROJECTING FROM ONE OF SAID CORNERS, SAID FRAME BEING DISPOSED IN AN UPRIGHT DIRECTION WITH THE CORNER CARRYING THE STEM AT THE BOTTOM, THE CORNER OPPOSITE THE STEM CARRYING CORNER AT THE TOP, AND THE OTHER TWO CORNERS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE TOP AND BOTTOM CORNERS, THE STEM ON THE BOTTOM CORNER BEING RECEIVED WITHIN AND SECURED TO SAID SOCKET, A SHAFT MEMBER LOCATED INWARDLY OF AND EXTENDING ACROSS THE TOP CORNER OF SAID 